Harvey Smith

Dishonored is a Rorschach test of a game. Casual observers believe it looks like London during the industrial revolution. (It’s not.) To gamers, it resembles BioShock in some ways. (It does have connection to that first-person shooter.) But even though, Arkane Studios’ latest project reminds players of one thing or another, the game itself is wholly original.

Its takes place in the Steampunk-style locale of Dunwall, a port city that could be confused with the home of Big Ben. Victorian buildings form a jagged skyline with chimneys billowing out grey smoke. It’s a world where instead of fossil fuels, people use whale oil to power their vehicles and devices. Players take on the role of Corvo, who is the bodyguard of the Empress. Well, that is until he’s framed for her murder.

The Lord Regent takes over and ends up being a tyrant. Meanwhile, Corvo has gone into hiding and has been touched by the Outsider, an other-wordly being that visits pivotal people in history. In this case, it’s Corvo and the contact gives him supernatural powers.